Feds Nab Illegal Immigrant Working for Senator

Federal authorities have quietly arrested an 18-year-old unpaid intern working for Robert Menendez, alleging that he is both an illegal immigrant and a registered sex offender, the AP reports. If that weren't scandalous enough, one official says that Homeland Security told agents to hold off on the arrest until after the 2012 election, in which Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, was defending his seat.

Authorities nabbed Luis Abrahan Sanchez Zavaleta on Dec. 6 and still have him in custody. Officials say he entered the country years ago on a visa from Peru that has since expired. He was required to register as a sex offender after an unspecified 2010 incident—because he was a minor at the time, details of the case are sealed. Since then, he's been working for Menendez on—what else?—immigration issues. The senator is a notable advocate for immigration-friendly policy. (More Bob Menendez stories.)